* '''Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport''' ({{IATA|SAV}}, {{ICAO|KSAV}}), [http://www.savannahairport.com/] is about an hour away from the island and served by seven airlines. The airport is directly connected to Interstate 95.

* '''Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport''' ({{IATA|SAV}}, {{ICAO|KSAV}}), [http://www.savannahairport.com/] is about an hour away from the island and served by seven airlines. The airport is directly connected to Interstate 95.

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Air taxi and air charter companies such as '''Jetset Charter''' [http://www.jscharter.com] fly a variety of private charter aircraft, such as pistons and turbo props, for small groups and individuals into Hilton Head Island Airport (KHXD). Generally, private jet aircraft must fly into Savannah/Hilton Head Int'l (KSAV).

==Get around==

==Get around==

Revision as of 21:12, 29 June 2011

Hilton Head Island[1] is in South Carolina, just across the border from Savannah, Georgia. With an approximate population of 33,000, it is on a beautiful, semi-tropical 12 mile barrier island. Hilton Head Island is a vacation playland with famous beaches and great golf courses that overlook the Atlantic Ocean.

Contents

Get in

By car

US Route 278 is the only road on and off the island. An interchange with Interstate 95 is along US 278 about 40 minutes west of the island. Between the island and I-95, US 278 intersects with South Carolina Route 170, which provides access to and from Beaufort and Savannah.

By plane

Hilton Head Island is served by two airports.

Hilton Head Island Airport (IATA: HHH, ICAO: KHXD, [2]) is the only airport on the island. Delta Air Lines [3] flies to and from Atlanta-Hartsfield, and US Airways Express [4] operates flights to Washington-National and Charlotte. Commercial flights are normally only available in the spring and summer; a majority of the airport's operations are still general aviation.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (IATA: SAV, ICAO: KSAV), [5] is about an hour away from the island and served by seven airlines. The airport is directly connected to Interstate 95.

Air taxi and air charter companies such as Jetset Charter[6] fly a variety of private charter aircraft, such as pistons and turbo props, for small groups and individuals into Hilton Head Island Airport (KHXD). Generally, private jet aircraft must fly into Savannah/Hilton Head Int'l (KSAV).

Get around

Once entering the island, US 278 becomes known as the William Hilton Parkway. After traveling about a mile on the island, the road splits in two.
William Hilton Parkway continues as US 278 Business, a surface road around the eastern end of the island. US 278 Business is a four-lane divided highway, but most businesses on the island are along the road, making for a slow, 25-to-30-minute drive to the southern end of the island.
US 278 itself branches off onto the Cross Island Parkway, a grade-separated expressway. The Cross Island Parkway is a toll road, costing $1.25 for most passenger cars. The parkway reduces the journey from the split to the south end of the island to five minutes.
Both US 278 and US 278 Business terminate at the Sea Pines Circle at the south end of the island. From this circle, cars can continue south on Greenwood Drive to enter the gated Sea Pines plantation, or east on Pope Avenue to head towards Coligny Beach, the major public beach on the island.

Hilton Head is quite bicycle-friendly. All main roads and most major roads in the resort plantations have a companion bicycle path, and there are a few miles of paths that cut their own trail away from the roads. Although not lit for night riding, they are the perfect way to traverse the island during the day time hours. Bicycle rental stores are plentiful, although they may be expensive.

Along with the convenience of bicycle travel, however, come a few rules to be followed. The most important rule, as with most bicycle path systems, is that cars always have the right of way when crossing the street. All bicycles are expected to stop and yield to cars at all street crossings. Most crossings have bicycle-sized stop signs and painted stop lines to remind riders of this fact. Bicycles may cross only when the street is clear or a car stops and yields the right of way. Riders are also expected to ride on the right side of the paths. Some golf courses may open up their cart paths to bicycles during non-playing hours (in the morning and at night), but other than this it is generally not a good idea to stray off the paths.

See

Harbour Town. Visit to see how the upper class lives. Admire the multi-million dollar yachts in many different marinas and sailing in the Atlantic Ocean.

Jenkins Island. Right between the bridges from Bluffton to Hilton Head Island.

Shelter Cove. The Island's largest deepwater marina. During the summer enjoy live music and weekly fireworks.

Do

Biking, [7]. The Hilton Head Island area features over 25 crossing bike paths and many locations offer bike rentals.

Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center, [8]. Regarded as one of the best in “The 50 Greatest U.S Tennis Resorts” by Tennis Magazine, this resort offers 25 courts, instructional programs, and tournaments.

Beaches - Nearly 9 miles of Atlantic Ocean surf and beautiful beaches, all publicly accessible. There are several public parks that provide beach access. From there, you can walk or bike the length of the island. Recommended spots are South Beach, Disney Resort Beach Club area.

Golf Courses - There are almost too many to count. Among the best:** Harbour Town Golf Links - While it has one of the most expensive greens fees in the Hilton Head area, here you can play the same course as the pros, as Harbour Town hosts the Heritage (currently the Verizon Heritage) golf tournament every April. Among the best public golf courses is Hilton Head National[9] in Bluffton one mile from the bridge to Hilton Head. Greens fees and rates are very affordable for all.

George Fazio Golf Course[10] – Designed by the revered golf designer, George Fazio, this 18 hole course is the only par-70 course on Hilton Head Island.

Robert Trent Jones Course[12] – Recently renovated in 2002 for $3 million, Golfweek readers regard this course as one of the best in the region. This course was named 2003 Golf Course of the Year by South Carolina Board of Directors of the NGCOA.

Bottle-nosed dolphins - Take a boat tour. Seeing dolphins is virtually guaranteed; getting a good picture of one is another matter.

Eat

Ask some service employees for their recommendations for great Hilton Head restaurants. Well-known or busy does not necessarily mean good food. Coupons and menus are available in local tourism magazines.

Alexanders, take the entrance to Palmetto Dunes and it's further down on the right. Popular seafood restaurant, but also does a great fillet mignon.

Stacks, past the entrance to Palmetto Dunes on William Hilton Parkway in the direction of Sea Pines. Excellent for breakfast, diner-style, fast, friendly service. Be prepared to queue if you're not an early riser.

Salty Dog Cafe, 232 South Sea Pines Drive, ☎+1 843-363-2198. 11:00am-10:00pm. Outdoor cafe that is especially popular with tourists. It's in the gated Sea Pines resort plantation, so you must pay $5 at the visitor's center to get in if you are not renting in the plantation. On the back of the temporary pass is a map to guide you to the area of the restaurant. Live music plays most nights in the summer. As with most restaurants on the island during the summer, you must arrive around 5:45-6:00pm if you don't want to wait for a table. After that time, the wait usually jumps to 30-45 minutes and slowly increases from there. This is especially true for popular restaurants such as the Salty Dog. A t-shirt from the accompanying store is a common souvenir.$10-$20.

Drink

Sleep

Being such a popular vacation destination, Hilton Head has many lodging choices. There are several hotels on the island, however a great and widespread accommodation alternative is the vacation rental. Vacation rentals are available in many types, from large condo buildings to quaint homes, new and old.

Comfort Inn Hilton Head, 2 Tanglewood Drive, ☎''+1 843''842-6662 (fax: +1 843''842-6664), [16]. checkin: 4PM; checkout: 11AM. This hotel is perfectly located on six acres of wooded land and surrounded by three lagoons.

Crowne Plaza Resort, 130 Shipyard Drive, ☎''1 843'' 842-2400, [17]. checkin: 4PM; checkout: 12PM. A beachfront hotel located in the gated Shipyard Plantation, on the south end of Hilton Head Island. Also serves buffets at Brellas Café and fresh seafood at Portz restaurant.High Season rates, approximately $150-250/night.

Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!